Lighter apparatus for use with cigarette packages or cases therefor

Abstract

Improved cigarette lighter apparatus for combined use with cigarette packages of the "flip-top" type or, in one embodiment, with cases for cigarette packages, includes a member for supporting a lighter device, which supporting member is adapted to be removably affixed to a conventional "flip-top" cigarette package in a manner such that upon the contents of the cigarette package being exhausted, the supporting member can be removed therefrom and removably affixed to another conventional cigarette package, and a lighter device mounted on the supporting member. In this embodiment, the supporting member includes a sleeve portion adapted conveniently to fit over a portion of a conventional "flip-top" cigarette package and a lighter supporting cover portion hingedly connected to the sleeve portion. The lighter device may alternately be permanently or removably mounted on the supporting member. In the former case the resulting assembly may be either reusable or disposable while in the latter, the lighter device may be either refillable or disposable by itself. According to a further feature of the invention, the lighter apparatus may alternatively comprise a component of a case for cigarette packages. Additional embodiments of the invention are disclosed wherever the lighter apparatus may be used either in conjunction with conventional cigarette packages as described above or, alternatively, may be used alone, i.e. not in conjunction with cigarette packages or cases, for lighting cigarettes in the conventional manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. New and improved cigarette lighter apparatus adapted for removable affixation to conventional cigarette packages of the "flip-top" type, said cigarette package having a lower package portion and an upper cover portion hinged thereto by means of a hinge portion extending transversely across one side wall of the package, comprising: means for supporting a lighter device adapted to be removably affixed to the exterior of said cigarette package in a manner such that no modification of the package or the contents is required and such that the cover portion of said cigarette package may be opened and closed in a conventional manner as desired, said supporting means including a sleeve portion adapted to fit over and snugly receive a portion of the conventional "flip-top" cigarette package, a lighter device supporting cover portion, and hinge means for pivotally connecting said lighter device supporting cover portion to said sleeve portion, wherein said hinge means pivotally connecting said lighter device supporting cover portion to said sleeve portion comprises a hinge portion extending transversely and rectilinearly along said sleeve and supporting portions, said lighter device supporting cover portion being formed to receive said upper cover portion of said cigarette package in a manner such that said rectilinearly extending hinge portion is substantially aligned with and overlies said rectilinearly extending hinge portion of said cigarette package; and   a lighter device mounted on said supporting means.   
     
     
       2. Lighter apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve and lighter device supporting cover portions are each defined by front and rear wall portions and a pair of side wall portions interconnecting said front and rear wall portions and each of said sleeve and cover portions having a rectangular transverse cross-section having dimensions slightly greater than the transverse cross section of a cigarette package with which it is adapted to be associated, said rear wall portion of said sleeve and lighter device supporting portions having upper and lower edges which are respectively interconnected by said hinge portion, said side wall portions of said sleeve and lighter device supporting portions having upper and lower edges, respectively, which intersect said hinge portion and extend downwardly and away therefrom and said front wall portions of said sleeve and lighter device supporting portions having upper and lower edges, respectively, which extend transversely and rectilinearly and which intersect the upper and lower edges of said respective side wall portions thereof. 
     
     
       3. A cigarette case adapted to contain a conventional cigarette package, comprising: a substantially rectangular receptacle member having an open end;   means for supporting a mechanical lighter device removably attached to said receptacle member so that said supporting means together with the receptacle member together define a cigarette case adapted to house a conventional cigarette package;   said supporting means having a configuration such that the same when detached from said receptacle member is affixable to the exterior of a flip-top cover portion of a conventional flip-top cigarette package with no modification of the cover portion or other package component or to the interior space available for cigarettes within the package being required upon such affixation and such that the flip-top cover portion can be opened and closed to provide access to the interior space within the package with said lighter device supporting means remaining continuously affixed thereto and such that a cigarette can be lit by a mechanical lighter device supported by said supporting means without detaching said supporting means or lighter device supported thereby from said flip-top cover portion.   
     
     
       4. A cigarette case as recited in claim 3 wherein said supporting means includes a sleeve portion adapted to fit over and receive a portion of a conventional cigarette package, said sleeve portion adapted to fit within said receptacle member in telescoping relationship thereto.